Sim Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 From today's BBC News website. Have any of your children been faced with this situation? http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-43569149 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I always just informed my children's schools that they would be absent on such a such a date for dance, LAMDA or music exams but I do know that at my daughter's previous dance school there was a problem with children from schools in a neighbouring local authority. If permission for my children had ever been refused I would have taken no notice. We used to have to travel from Staffordshire to Manchester for LAMDA so it took a whole day sometimes. They have now opened a more local centre. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YorkshirePudding Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I have never asked permission, just told school what the children are doing and when they would be collected and returned back. Both their primary and secondary schools have always responded with a 'good luck and let us know how you get on..' 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 The fundamental problem here , as usual, is that schools are not looking at using the correct coding for the situation and/or lack in glandular fortitude to tell those who whinge over other's legit absences being authorised. If dance / music / drama exams are being refused / blocked . recorded as unauthorised yet sporting representation with county or professional team academies is being passed there is the possibility of Equality Act actions as the policy is indirectly discriminating on the basis of sex ( much as this may be seen as stereotyping ) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 1 minute ago, YorkshirePudding said: I have never asked permission, just told school what the children are doing and when they would be collected and returned back. Both their primary and secondary schools have always responded with a 'good luck and let us know how you get on..' possibly because the school doesn't have a problem with chavvy but with means / nouveau riche parents who want to break the rules solely for hoildays ... ( or even chavvy without means thanks to the super soaraway Scum and the 10 pound holiday promotion ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I’m sure it was unintentional but are you aware that chav is an offensive term? 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Time off school to participate in a sporting competition comes under the same licensing rules as taking part in a performance eg EYB, panto, West End/Touring shows. Children who want to take time off to attend non local authority organised sports training tend to have the same issues as those taking dance exams. County orchestra & county sports teams have no problems as it’s organised by the local authority. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balletbean Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 27 minutes ago, YorkshirePudding said: I have never asked permission, just told school what the children are doing and when they would be collected and returned back. Both their primary and secondary schools have always responded with a 'good luck and let us know how you get on..' Ditto here, over the years and a certain School Administrator I have learnt to ‘inform’ rather than ‘ask’ for time off for the dancing exams. Be it RAD or ISTD. Even to the extent of the local Dance Festival. 😊🙆♀️ Response has always been supportive. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fiz Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I just used to say they had an exam but girls in particular school in a different education authority had terrible problems. Yet their extracurricular activities were always mentioned on that school’s website and newsletters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piccolo Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Never had a problem with this. From nursery, primary and through comprehensive, extra curricular activities have always been supported, even ballet! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pointetoes Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 (edited) I used to simply inform the school when my DD or Musical D would be away from school......I never had any problems, they were always fully supportive. Edited March 29, 2018 by Pointetoes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yrosered Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I've just had to ask for 4 days in a week's time for Easter school, as the holidays don't match up, the next day for an audition and the following Wednesday for an exam. School just said they were really proud of how hard she works and - and that's Y9 with one early GCSE to work for. I was really relieved, pretty surprised and completely grateful to have chosen a state school which values the Arts - they still offer GCSE and A-Level Dance, Music and Drama despite cuts. But didn't realise until this morning just how lucky we are. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pups_mum Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I've never had any problems getting time off for my children for dance or music exams etc. DD's academic school was singularly disinterested in her dancing, but they never actively tried to sabotage anything either. They are a lot more interested in my boys' musical and sporting achievements interestingly. Amusingly, the only absence I've ever had a problem with was regarding my younger son. I recently got two letters within 24 hours from the school demanding an explanation for a day's "unauthorised absence", the second letter landing on my doorstep before I could possibly have had time to respond to the one my son had brought home, so they were obviously very concerned about this. Where was he? At the national finals of a science & technology competition.......representing the school! 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 3 minutes ago, Pups_mum said: I've never had any problems getting time off for my children for dance or music exams etc. DD's academic school was singularly disinterested in her dancing, but they never actively tried to sabotage anything either. They are a lot more interested in my boys' musical and sporting achievements interestingly. Amusingly, the only absence I've ever had a problem with was regarding my younger son. I recently got two letters within 24 hours from the school demanding an explanation for a day's "unauthorised absence", the second letter landing on my doorstep before I could possibly have had time to respond to the one my son had brought home, so they were obviously very concerned about this. Where was he? At the national finals of a science & technology competition.......representing the school! GIGO / PEBKAC Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pups_mum Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 1 hour ago, Picturesinthefirelight said: County orchestra & county sports teams have no problems as it’s organised by the local authority. It may vary from sport to sport, but that's certainly not the case for the sports my son participates in. County and regional teams are run by the youth development departments of the sports' governing bodies and are not connected to the local authority in any way as far as I know. I've had to apply for "absence due to exceptional circumstances" for county sports just as for music or dance related absences. Fortunately though most sporty things seem to go on at weekends or in school holidays so we've managed not to upset the school by requesting multiple absences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
youngatheart Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 (edited) Surely the actual problem here is with the exam boards, who insist on scheduling exams during school hours? IMO the norm should always be to hold exam sessions in school holidays/weekends/after school, & never during the school day, certainly for secondary age students working towards GCSE's/A'levels? I know it is a culture change but I do not agree that it is acceptable for children to be forced to miss school if they want to take a dance/music exam. Edited March 29, 2018 by youngatheart Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 It would be almost impossible, costs would go up A LOT and the wait for a private visit would be a lot longer than they currently are. Also many public centre venues would not be available evenings and weekends (I'm thinkig of the church hall local ABRSM music exams are held in or the Friends Meeting House LAMDA exams are held in for example). Elitism would increase, dance is different as exams are generally done in groups and at the dance schools own premises but music and drama exams the fees for a private visit are going up year by year. Teachers are trying to combine sessions with each other but it is very difficult. Only academic schools with enough children to have a private session would not be disadvantaged. Examiners tour the country and a full day of exams will start at 9.00am and continue up until 6.00pm with a lunch break. That would never be achievable evenings and weekends only. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pups_mum Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I imagine weekend/evening only working would have a huge impact on recruitment to examiners posts too. Aside from being highly antisocial hours, given that most examiners are also teachers there would be a huge impact on their own schools. It looks like a fairly arduous role to me as it is - I can't imagine many people wanting to take it on if exams were always out of school hours. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancingboy65 Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 DS is "educated off site" for his exams. Never been a problem at Senior School, they let him leave 45 minutes early every Friday so he could get to his associate class when he was in Year 7. Primary school was a different kettle of fish, the head didn't "do dance" so exams were a bit of a battle! 🙄 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loulou Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 We have never encountered a problem with any of the 3 schools my dd has attended, my understanding is exams are classed as educational activity and coded as such on the register, nothing to do with aurhorised or unauthorised holiday or exceptional circumstances. This has been the same for auditions/ open days and summer schools which started before term ended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daughtersdance Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 3 hours ago, Nicola H said: possibly because the school doesn't have a problem with chavvy but with means / nouveau riche parents who want to break the rules solely for hoildays ... ( or even chavvy without means thanks to the super soaraway Scum and the 10 pound holiday promotion ) How rude! 😱 I'm obviously a "super soaraway chavvy Scum" mum then as I've taken my children on the so called £10 breaks when they were younger! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfbrew Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 1 hour ago, youngatheart said: Surely the actual problem here is with the exam boards, who insist on scheduling exams during school hours? IMO the norm should always be to hold exam sessions in school holidays/weekends/after school, & never during the school day, certainly for secondary age students working towards GCSE's/A'levels? I know it is a culture change but I do not agree that it is acceptable for children to be forced to miss school if they want to take a dance/music exam. It's not as simple as that, my students would not be able to take the exams if examination hours were restricted to out of school hours as I simply would not be able to get the hall space for the necessary length of time. For example I have over 60 candidates entered for RAD exams next term and I also have to factor in examiner breaks,lunch etc. I always ask parents to let me know of potential issues so I can endeavour to timetable accordingly if at all possible. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
taxi4ballet Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I have only ever heard of the problem arising when parents have made the unfortunate mistake of asking for time off as 'holiday', especially for things like dance summer schools or workshops. If you tell the school it is an 'approved sporting activity' then they can't say no. After all, dance is one of the sports listed on the GCSE PE curriculum. The other code they can use is 'educated offsite'. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird22 Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 We have had schools refuse to authorise absence for dance exams. We now schedule all our exams to take place over the weekend and on the very rare occasion that they need to run onto a week day we only enter students who have either left school or attend a school that will authorise the absence (or have a parent who is happy to pukk them out without authorisation) It is a logistical nightmare! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hfbrew Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I would do the same if I had my own premises! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annaliesey Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Re the “chavvy” remark, I can understand the different treatment between private and main stream schools. Even though there is actual legislation under children in entertainment, the rules regarding monitoring and reporting are very different. With private schools, time off is a “commercial arrangement” whereas local authority come down on mainstream like a tonne of bricks. Law should be consistent in my view and not determinedly by social class! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nelly the Elephant Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 6 hours ago, Nicola H said: possibly because the school doesn't have a problem with chavvy but with means / nouveau riche parents who want to break the rules solely for hoildays ... ( or even chavvy without means thanks to the super soaraway Scum and the 10 pound holiday promotion ) I haven't posted for ages but felt compelled to ask "what point are you actually trying to make?" You came across as rather offensive but I thought I'd ask what your thoughts were before deciding wether you were being rude or not. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picturesinthefirelight Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 3 hours ago, Bluebird22 said: We have had schools refuse to authorise absence for dance exams. We now schedule all our exams to take place over the weekend and on the very rare occasion that they need to run onto a week day we only enter students who have either left school or attend a school that will authorise the absence (or have a parent who is happy to pukk them out without authorisation) It is a logistical nightmare! I suspect I know which out of the two local authorities the schools were in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bluebird22 Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Pictures, they are a nightmare! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatasmum Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 6 hours ago, daughtersdance said: How rude! 😱 I'm obviously a "super soaraway chavvy Scum" mum then as I've taken my children on the so called £10 breaks when they were younger! The 'Scum' comment is another name for the S** newspaper. Lots of people prefer to use that term because of the way the paper treated the Liverpool fans and also the phone hacking. Sorry for going off topic! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatasmum Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 Now my daughter is year 7 I'm a bit worried about asking for time off for her to attend the EYB audition. She will only miss one lesson after lunch but her school is one that likes parents to send children to school even if they're unwell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suzysue Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 I’ve never had a problem with dd getting time off school for dance exams. I just write in her planner she will be out for an exam between whatever hours and that they can class it as educated offsite. It’s more of an issue for me to get time off work to taxi her around. I’v never considered it being absent but getting a qualification that they don’t offer at school and don’t see how they can refuse, especially as her attendance is otherwise good. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted March 29, 2018 Share Posted March 29, 2018 2 hours ago, Tatasmum said: The 'Scum' comment is another name for the S** newspaper. Lots of people prefer to use that term because of the way the paper treated the Liverpool fans and also the phone hacking. Sorry for going off topic! and their treatment of the LGBTQ community and innumerable other offensive things the paper and it;s alumni such a Piers Morgan have done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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